"I jumped on the railway tracks and held up a sign: Stop the War in Vietnam"

Media for Radical Wollongong

Wollongong's history in activism revealed - Illawarra Mercury"Wollongong has a radical, activist history that challenges anywhere else in the country, Woonona author John Rainford says.A lifelong unionist, Rainford's interest in activism, protest and politics has led him through penning several books on radicalism and onto his latest project - writing and producing a film, Radical Wollongong, chronicling the recorded history of Wollongong through a lens of social activism."We have a very real, living history of radicalism here. It's important to tell that story," Rainford said.Read the full Mercury article_

A people's history OF WOLLONGONG

Radical Wollongong is an action-packed account of the progressive political history of the city.

The film features colourful interviews with activist participants who battled 'Pig Iron Bob', participated in the 1949 coal strike, defended the Communist Party against banning, were jailed for draft resistance during the Vietnam war, organised the unemployed, forced Australia's biggest company to employ women, occupied Federal Parliament and much more, all accompanied by fascinating archival footage and photos.

The film also covers today's struggles in the Illawarra, from Sandon Point to the community battle to stop coal seam gas,and is a call for the spirit of people power to continue and grow.